Rand Paul Reaches Out to Jewish Community

Sen. Rand Paul is working on building support within the Jewish community as he tests the water for a 2016 bid for the White House.

The Kentucky Republican held a private conference call this week with roughly 80 Jewish leaders from across the country, according to The Daily Caller.

"There were people on the call from many states — Jewish leaders from various institutions and communities around the country — and that was what was beautiful about it," New York Rabbi Nate Segal told The Daily Caller.

Paul reportedly answered around eight questions about his views on the Middle East and also touched on domestic issues such as school choice.

Paul was asked in particular about his position on foreign aid, perhaps due to the controversial comments he made in January about reducing aid to Israel.

"The response afterwards was very positive," Segal said of the call. "Everybody felt that the senator was honest and didn't just say what the Jewish community would want to hear, but said what he feels. And that was very important and that was very well received."